Monday, July 7, 2025

Reviving the Washington Park Railway Loop

 


The closed Washington Park Zoo railway station (Melissa Darby photo)

From 1960 to 2013, the 2.5-mile Washington Park Zoo Railway route into Forest Park was perhaps Portland’s greatest family entertainment.  Youngsters loved the open-air cars and passengers of all ages enjoyed the trees and spectacular views of the Rose Garden, downtown Portland and Mt. Hood.

 Alas, construction changes at the zoo led to closure of the park loop in 2013.  Though a smaller loop still runs within the zoo’s boundaries, it doesn’t capture the majesty of the longer route with a stop as the now-closed Washington Park station.

Could the bigger loop be restored?  A special committee meeting in an obscure government room could prompt the Portland City Council and the Metro regional government to consider the train’s revival and hold public hearings to consider it.

From 1960 to 2013, the 2.5-mile Washington Park Zoo Railway route into Forest Park was perhaps Portland’s greatest family entertainment.  Youngsters loved the open-air cars and passengers of all ages enjoyed the trees and spectacular views of the Rose Garden, downtown Portland and Mt. Hood.

 

Map shows current and former zoo railway routes

Alas, construction changes at the zoo led to closure of the park loop in 2013.  Though a smaller loop still runs within the zoo’s boundaries, it doesn’t capture the majesty of the longer route with a stop as the now-closed Washington Park station.

 Could the bigger loop be restored?  A special committee meeting in an obscure government room could prompt the Portland City Council and the Metro regional government to consider the train’s revival and hold public hearings to consider it.

 Officials at the Oregon Zoo, a branch of the Metro regional government, are not keen on the idea.  Though the train was always considered a profitable venture, they don’t see it as playing a role in the zoo’s mission related to animal preservation and education.  Further, they worry about maintenance and operational costs.

 However, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.  The train, tracks and route are owned by the City of Portland, dating back to the era when the city owned the zoo.  Train advocates think the city and Metro could create an intergovernmental agreement in which a non-profit entity would be in charge of operating and maintaining the train and tracks.

 At a recent meeting, Rick Gustafson, a former Metro executive director, said the intergovernmental agreement with a non-profit operator is how the Willamette Shore Trolley operates. He recommended the same strategy for the zoo railway.  

Kathy Goeddel, president of the non-profit Friends of Washington Park Zoo and Railway, said the longer ride is preferred by riders by a 4 to 1 margin.  “We need to give everyone the ride they want,” she said.

 Key members of the current task force are Olivia Clark, a Portland city councilor, and Christine Lewis, a Metro councilor.  They likely will have to become advocates of the long route if it has a chance of being revived. The public likely will not have a chance to comment unless those governments decide to hold public hearings.

---Fred Leeson

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